Trying to conceive baby#2 following ivf treatment for #1

[lucieloos]

I thought I would start this thread as I can't see anything similar. We underwent many rounds of icsi and following a couple of bfns, and an ectopic pregnancy we were finally blessed with our beautiful daughter last year.

We recently started thinking about baby no 2 and had 4 frozen embryos of which 2 had been tested and found to be chromosomally normal so are meant to have a better chance. We didnt have the other 2 tested.

A couple of weeks back we had our first fet with one of the tested embryos and got a bfp super early at 4dp5dt. Sadly by 8dpt the line was barely visible and resulted in a chemical pregnancy. I've been feeling really down about it as this was meant to be a super duper embryo with no genetic problems which they said was the main reason embryos fail.

I thought it would be easier trying for #2 and of course it is in a way as I realise how lucky I am to have had a baby but I can feel the infertility fog starting to descend again as I realise although I've had a brief respite I will never be like my fertile friends and I do really want another baby and a sibling for my little girl.

Im feeling a bit negative at the moment. We will probably go back for the other tested embryo in the near future but I can't see how I would ever get lucky enough to get 2 bfps in a row. These things just don't happen to me so just not too hopeful about it at all. We said that if we used all of our frosties with no success we would be happy with what we have but already I am thinking should I do more fresh cycles. I will be 39 soon though so time isn't on my side for that.

Anyway just wondering if anyone else is in a similar situation and would like to share the journey. Please come and say hi.

So I had my appointment. Doctor started off by saying that with the PGS tested embryos American clinics were reporting around 60% success rates but that his own results were around 80%. He said he didn’t believe there was anything wrong with the embryo and that he would be looking to the environment as the source of the problem. Given that he wants to do medicated fet next time. Plus clexane, aspirin, intrallipids and pred.

He was REALLY happy (in the context of a failed cycle) that id had the positive pregnancy tests. He got quite excited when I told him. He said that meant I was receptive to pregnancy and that I should now be primed for a good implantation. He said that had I not had the chemical he would be recommending an endometrial scratch. I asked about Post c section adhesions and he said that he hadn’t seen anything on the ultrasound to suggest that but if we had another failure he’d suggest a hysteroscopy to check.

I asked whether being so ill might have been a factor and he said it might have been but not possible to be sure.

So we will start with estrogen when my next period turns up. Overall a good consult though nothing too surprising (we are too well informed on the internet!) but he put my mind at ease - he said he was reasonably confident we’d get a good result next time.

Hoping you’re winging your way towards transfer lucie - good luck!

That all sounds really promising @Snowdayfet!

Really pleased for you.

Oh wow that sounds great snow and makes me feel a little more positive about mine. I know it's silly but I was of the mindset that I've had a bfp albeit a chemical so the chances of me getting another bfp this time are probably slim but I'm glad your doctor seems so positive about it all. I am also doing the clexane, pred, aspirin and intralipids. Fingers crossed this is the one for us both.

I'm on Clexane, pred, intralipids and aspirin too!

Yay good luck with your next beta tomorrow twinkle.

Good luck with transfer lucie and twinkle sounds very positive! Had appointment at Care today to talk about FET. We found out we have two grade 2 blastocysts, one of which is expanding. She said that this is good. I don't know how the grading works but hoping that's positive. Does anyone know about the relevance of expanding and what it means? We are going for one at a time. Starting oestrogen on 14th May as on Friday I have an op to deal with my episiotomy 😱 so will take a while to recover and certainly can't have probes etc. down the nether regions!

My next beta is Friday morning 

@Jenbot78 - 2 of the 3 embryos I had put back were expanded blastocysts. So sounds good!

That all sounds good jen. The blastocyst starts expanding before hatching so it's at a good stage. My little girl was an expanding blast when transferred! Hope your op goes well.

Yes he seemed very positive lucie - when not if! It was very comforting. Good to have a Plan B too if the next cycle fails. Good luck for tomorrow!

jen that sounds great!

Yes it's just for me this is my last tested embryo. I do have 2 more untested but neither of those could be any good so I'm not sure if it would be a when rather than if for me. I do think you will get there though with 2 more tested embryos to transfer.

I don’t quite believe him either but I enjoy his optimism.

I know it’s so stressful with one tested left. Although with 2 untested statistically at least one is likely to be ok, no? Anyway, let’s hope tomorrow goes well and you don’t need to cross that bridge.

Yes I guess I could get lucky with one of the untested. It would just be really stressful by then and took a lot to get the pgs embryos so I do hope we have luck with one of them. Got a long travel day tomorrow and then transfer Friday. Will update when I can.

Best of luck - keeping everything crossed for you.

Safe travels @lucieloos!

Stupid question alert - if only 1 stuck out of the 3 I had put back, what happens to the other 2? Will I bleed them out? Sorry for terminology!

Thanks twinkle they should just absorb back in. You shouldn't bleed if they haven't implanted.

Did you get your second beta today twinkle?

It's tomorrow @lucieloos

Oh yes sorry all this travelling is confusing me! We have arrived at our hotel in Czech. Just had a yummy pizza and going to chill for the evening now. Hoping all goes well for transfer tomorrow eeekk.

Good luck

Do you know the doctor doing your transfer?

I find it so embarrassing

Aww yes I've met him a few times. It's not the most pleasant thing but I'm kind of used to it now I guess

Good luck today @lucieloos

Thanks twinkle had extra intralipids this morning and transfer done. One hatching (almost fully hatched) pgs tested blast. Transfer went smoothly. Doctor said ideally I need intralipids again 10 days after transfer so I need to test early or get blood test. I'm an early tester anyway so not a problem. Don't know what I'll do if this one doesn't work. Will try and think positive though.

Congrats lucie. Embryo on board! Really hoping this is a sticky one. Try to stay positive though I know it’s hard (I am a total cynic).

It’s weird with the intrallipids - my doctor said a follow up on in a month (Assuming pregnancy works). I asked him why given that with a PGS tested embie the miscarriage rate should be negligible once successful implantation happened and he kind of shrugged and said “no one really understands why so on this one I just follow the protocol”. At least he’s honest! Weird that it’s so different between clinics though.

Yes that's strange snow he said it takes 10 days to reach peak strength so I've had the one lot today and then after that I should have another lot in 10 days if I have a bfp but said to book it in now just incase so I can definitely have it at 10dpt. He also said it was on a just incase basis to prevent miscarriage. Even though miscarriage rates are low with pgs he said if it did happen then we wouldn't want to be thinking if only we had the intralipids.

Just enjoying a nice lunch in the sun before getting our flight back in a few hours.

Lunch in th sun. How nice. Safe travels back the 4 of you!